"Actual shipping cost"??

If you're talking about HLJ, you can absolutely get a shipping estimate before committing to the order. 

If you open your shopping cart page, there will be two options in the orange bordered box. "Private Warehouse" (default) and "Ship Now". If you select "Ship Now", your calculated shipping fees will be displayed in the "order summary" column on the right. Select the desired shipping method and your order total will be displayed. Then you will have an option to proceed to checkout. 

Not me.And like you I have refused to order items,not just model stuff because of exorbitant shipping prices.

Aha!

     This is one of the reasons I won't order on line. If I can't find it locally, I don't need it!

Had a similar situation come up a couple of weeks ago when I was looking to buy some 28 gauge hypodermic tubing.  Did a Google search on the company that I found because they were saying they would let me know what the shipping was at the time of invoicing.  Turns out they had all 5 star reviews (and a lot of reviews), so I went ahead and placed the order.  Within just a few minutes, I had my invoice, and shipping was $9.95.  Got the red carpet treatment from everybody involved in the process, even though the quantity I was ordering was a mere pittance compared to what they would normally handle.  Got my stuff in 2 days, and it was packaged extremely well.  I know that I got lucky on that, because there are a lot of scammers out there, but now I know exactly where to go for tubing for modeling projects.  

I will not complete an order without seeing the shipping costs.  If the firm will not show me the shipping before an order, I back out and find a dealer who will.  Maybe I have lost some good deals, but probably not.  I figure if they will not show them, the costs will be exorbinit.

Phil_H

If you're talking about HLJ, you can absolutely get a shipping estimate before committing to the order. 

No, it was this one http://www.hobbylinc.com/

I only buy from HLJ through Amazon. In there I can see the total cost including shipping. For every kit I've ordered lately I have had no shipping from them using Amazon. I get them in about a week. I won't buy most kits if shipping is included. Usually.

BK

castelnuovo

 

No, it was this one http://www.hobbylinc.com/

 

What are you trying to order from them?  I just went there and put an item in the cart, and when I go to check out, it gives me several shipping options and has a cost listed for each one.

Eaglecash867

 

 

castelnuovo

 

No, it was this one http://www.hobbylinc.com/

 

 

 

 

What are you trying to order from them?  I just went there and put an item in the cart, and when I go to check out, it gives me several shipping options and has a cost listed for each one.

 

Bingo! Depends on which shipping option you're choosing. If you wanted fast, yeah... expect to pay higher shipping costs. Besides, postal charges have been going up since October 1st.

TB... if there are no LHS in one's area, that is the only option we have. Most of my model and supplies purchases are through Scalehobbyists. 

I do notice that some online modeling joints default to the more expensive shipping option.  Just be careful to switch to the standard shipping rate when checking out.  I'm finding shipping to run around $8-$9 for most of my orders.  There's a shop in NJ, MegaHobby, that will ship no charge for orders over $100.  Most of my Amazon orders are no charge shipping.  Even though shipping may cost more these days it's worth the convenience vs. driving to the local shop.  I will always pay more for easy and convenient.

wpwar11

Even though shipping may cost more these days it's worth the convenience vs. driving to the local shop.  I will always pay more for easy and convenient.

Me too.  Everything I do, including this hobby, I gauge in terms of my shop rate for fixing 1:1 aircraft (roughly $2.00 every minute).  Time is money, and the less time I have to spend trying to find something I want or need, that's money in the bank.  I also don't have to worry about synchronizing my schedule with someone's business hours.  I order stuff when I'm thinking about it, and technology takes care of the rest.  Lots of mom and pop producers of really cool aftermarket stuff in other countries too...and many of them don't sell to local hobby shops.  Anybody completely opposed to using the technology we have available is really limiting themselves, and really missing out.

DooeyPyle67

Bingo! Depends on which shipping option you're choosing. If you wanted fast, yeah... expect to pay higher shipping costs. Besides, postal charges have been going up since October 1st.

Yup, and since shipping costs are a big part of my business as well, I know that the hobby suppliers I use are charging me a fair price that is consistent with current rates.  Convenience and speed both cost money, just like tipping your waitresses and delivery drivers bringing food to your house.  Everybody deserves to make a living from the work they do.

The supply place I mentioned earlier was sort of a risk, but at the same time, it wouldn't have been in their best interest to gouge people on shipping after they pay.  Word spreads fast about things like that these days, and people would stop buying from them.

wpwar11

I do notice that some online modeling joints default to the more expensive shipping option.  Just be careful to switch to the standard shipping rate when checking out.  I'm finding shipping to run around $8-$9 for most of my orders.  There's a shop in NJ, MegaHobby, that will ship no charge for orders over $100.  Most of my Amazon orders are no charge shipping.  Even though shipping may cost more these days it's worth the convenience vs. driving to the local shop.  I will always pay more for easy and convenient.

 

Great, this worked. Shipping at Sprue Bros went from $51 to $14. But they did hide the switch option a bit. 

Most have run across this on fleabay......you see a kit for $30, right below it is the same kit for $10.  Shipping is $10-12 for the first one, the $10 kit shipping is $50.

Don't just grab a low price, make sure of the total cost.

Haven't run into the issue the OP described yet, but thanks for that heads up.

castelnuovo

No, it was this one http://www.hobbylinc.com/

Ah, now I see what you mean. If shipping within the US, they give a range of shipping options and charges, but as in your case, if shipping to Canada (or any other Int'l destination) they try to send you off-site to get a shipping guesstimate.

There are a lot of reasons shipping costs have been rising...fuel costs and surcharges, the near complete change to 'dimensional weight' shipping pricing - relatively light items in larger boxes like model kits are punished heavily by this, political decisions of the International Postal Union, supply chain and pandemic issues...in short, it stopped me from selling internationally on eBay. It wasn't worth the hassle. eBay itself has been in a serious downward spiral, enough to make me quit after being a member since 1999. Just too hostile to small guys these days. 

MJames70

eBay itself has been in a serious downward spiral, enough to make me quit after being a member since 1999. Just too hostile to small guys these days. 

I've noticed that as well, with regards to modeling, kits, supplies, etc. It seems like the guys trying to thin their stash have been all but forced out.

And as noted above, I despise the sellers who offer a cheap kit and then try to gut you with exorbitant shipping. I don't deal with such folks, and am not afraid to tell them why.

You have to compare between vendors. Some  advertise a great price for the item or items then rip you a new one with outrageous shipping charges that makes up for the bargain price. This is specially true in EBay.